Reading, clowning and shutting down

First up, on Monday at 7:30 p.m., is a staged reading of WOPS by Richard Janaro. Based on what happened to four generations of the playwright's Italian-American family, the play's many characters endure both societal and familial turmoil in the 20th century. The three founders of the Miami Shores-based Naked Stage -- Antonio Amadeo, Katherine Amadeo and John Manzelli -- play all the characters, under the direction of Deborah Mello. Admission is free. GableStage is located in the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables.

On Tuesday at GableStage, Minneapolis-based physical theater artist Noah Bremer performs his solo show Untitled Duet With Houseplant as a benefit for Davie's Promethean Theatre. Bremer (shown, with clown nose, in the photo here) portrays Pepe, a guy who has to contend with an uncooperative plant named Gertrude. Admission is $20. For tickets, call 1-866-811-4111. Bremer is also teaching two workshops, each limited to 25 participants, at Nova Southeastern University's Black Box Theatre. The first, titled "The Dynamic Physical Performer," is Saturday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; the second, "The Art of Play," is Jan. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The fee for each workshop is $60. Call 786-317-7580 to reserve a space.

Finally, some unfortunate economy-related theater news. New Theatre founder Rafael de Acha has suspended operations of his Theater by the Book, which presented large-cast staged readings of classic plays. Contributions and grants have dried up, De Acha notes, and without them the company couldn't pay its actors.